Black Stars ‘disrespected’ Mahama – Afriyie Ankrah

Former Youth and Sports Minister, Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah has confirmed that the Black Stars players disrespected President John Dramani Mahama during the World Cup competition in Brazil.

According to Afriyie Ankrah, President Mahama had wanted to talk to the team via Skype at one of their technical meetings in Brazil but they ignored the President.

Speaking in a televised interview on Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana with Paul Adom Otchere on Sunday, Mr Afriyie Ankrah said the incident happened on the day of the match with Germany.

“We had arranged and we were going to put the President on Skype at the hotel. They had their last technical meeting and we went in there and they had just finished the meeting.”

“We were just about to connect and they started leaving and one particular player ….this is the President can you just spare us a few minutes, he said no no, dressing room, dressing room and then he added I hope he doesn’t speak for one hour.”

When the host asked whether the players knew it was the President on the line, Mr Afriyie Ankrah said the coach was supposed to have told them and that in any case when he (Elvis) got there, he told them.

He said that was absolutely disrespectful, “we are talking about the President of the land, the commander in chief. Under no circumstance…”

The former Youth and Sports Minister, who said he was disappointed in the conduct of the players, refused to name that particular player, except to say that when he gets the proper forum, he will do so.

He said there were a lot that went wrong and that when he get the requisite platform, he will make it public.

“Remember I have not briefed my bosses yet,” he added.

Asked whether he did chastise the player, he said no because there was a match at hand immediately and that he didn’t even immediately inform anybody until afterwards.

He said the President eventually spoke with the players later on in the dressing room and that it was Ben Dotse Malor who called him (Elvis) on phone, he put it on speaker and the President inspired, motivated and encouraged them.